I don’t know if you have noticed, but masks like the ones we wear in our daily lives are comfortable and snug to use; Diapers for babies can wrap around their bodies well without strangling them; There are also knee pads used during exercise, which can move flexibly with joint movements. These products have one thing in common, they all use elastic non-woven fabric. What is the material of elastic non-woven fabric? Let’s have a good chat today.
The main material composition of elastic non woven fabric
Elastic non-woven fabric is mainly composed of three materials: polypropylene (PP), polyester, and elastomer, each of which plays a unique and indispensable role.
Polypropylene (PP): a beam that supports strength and toughness
Polypropylene (PP) is the “backbone” of polypropylene elastic non-woven fabric, accounting for over 70% of the entire material and being the absolute main component. Polypropylene, as a material, is like a hardworking and versatile “multi skilled” with many excellent qualities. Its wear resistance is excellent. If it is made into non-woven fabric for wiping items, even with repeated friction, it is not easily damaged and can serve us for a long time. Moreover, it is not afraid of corrosion from acidic, alkaline and other chemical substances, and has good corrosion resistance. In environments with the presence of chemicals, it can still maintain its stable performance and will not be easily corroded or damaged.
From a microscopic perspective, the covalent bonds formed between carbon atoms in polypropylene molecular chains are strong, which endows it with high tensile and tear resistance, just like injecting a powerful force into elastic non-woven fabrics, making them more tough. That’s also why when we use products made of elastic non-woven fabric, we can feel that they are firm and not easily deformed. For example, some industrial protective fabrics are not easily torn when subjected to certain external forces, ensuring the safety and stability of use.
Polyester: a protective shield against the traces of time
Polyester accounts for about 20% of elastic non-woven fabrics, although its proportion is not as high as polypropylene, its role is not insignificant. It is like a loyal ‘guardian’ silently guarding the elastic non-woven fabric. Polyester has excellent ultraviolet resistance and oxidation resistance, which makes elastic nonwoven fabric effectively resist aging and extend service life when facing the sun and oxygen in the air.
Everyone should have had the experience that some plastic products will turn yellow, brittle, and lose their original performance if exposed to sunlight for a long time. But the elastic non-woven fabric with polyester added is different. It can resist the damage of ultraviolet rays very well, even after long-term sun exposure, it can still maintain good physical properties, and the color will not easily fade away. In terms of antioxidant properties, polyester can slow down the chemical reaction between elastic non-woven fabrics and oxygen, preventing the material from becoming brittle and reducing its strength due to oxidation. For example, the elastic non-woven fabric products we use for outdoor shading can still maintain good elasticity and strength after prolonged exposure to wind and sun, thanks to the protection of polyester.
Elastic body: the source of elasticity that endows flexibility
The proportion of elastomers in elastic non-woven fabrics is about 10%, which is the key factor that gives elastic non-woven fabrics a “flexible” elasticity. Elasticity is like injecting a “vitality” into elastic non-woven fabric, allowing it to stretch and restore its original state freely. When we stretch products made of elastic non-woven fabric, the molecular chains of the elastic material will be stretched, but when the external force disappears, it can quickly return to its original state, just like an elastic rubber band.
Taking the elastic bandage we use in our daily lives as an example, it needs to be able to tightly fit the joints of the human body, and be able to freely stretch and retract during joint movement without hindering joint movement. The presence of elastomers gives elastic bandages good elasticity and flexibility, which can effectively fix the injured area and allow patients to move freely to a certain extent, greatly improving the comfort and effectiveness of use. If there were no elastomers, the elastic non-woven fabric would become stiff and unable to meet the requirements of these elastic application scenarios.
Characteristics derived from the material of elastic nonwoven fabric
Unique Elasticity: The Secret of Free Stretching
The reason why elastic non-woven fabric stands out among many materials is due to its unique elasticity. This is all thanks to the added elastomer, which is the elastic masterbatch we mentioned earlier. It’s like injecting a magical force into elastic non-woven fabric, giving it the ability to stretch horizontally and vertically. According to different application requirements, elastic non-woven fabrics can be made into various forms such as single elasticity (only elastic in one direction), full elasticity (elastic in two perpendicular directions), and four-way elasticity (good elasticity in multiple directions).
In the masks we use in our daily lives, the elasticity of elastic non-woven fabric is fully reflected. The ear hook of a mask is usually made of elastic non-woven fabric, which can be easily stretched to adapt to different facial shapes and sizes. When worn, it can tightly fit the face, prevent external pollutants from entering, and not put too much pressure on the ears. It will not feel uncomfortable to wear for a long time. For example, baby diapers are made of elastic non-woven fabric around the waist, which can stretch and retract freely with the baby’s movements. Whether the baby kicks, flips, or crawls, the diapers can comfortably wrap around the baby without side leakage, and will not restrict the baby’s physical development, allowing the baby to move freely.
Breathable and Soft: The Key to Comfortable Experience
Have you ever had the experience of wearing breathable clothes and soon feeling stuffy and uncomfortable all over. But elastic non-woven fabric won’t give you such trouble. It has good breathability, which is determined by its special material structure. In the microstructure formed by the interweaving of polypropylene, polyester, and elastomers, there are many tiny pores that act like countless small windows, allowing air to freely circulate and timely remove the heat and moisture generated by the human body, keeping the skin dry and comfortable.
At the same time, the elastic non-woven fabric also brings a soft touch, and when it comes into contact with our skin, there is no hard and tight feeling. Just like the facial mask base material we use, if we use elastic non-woven fabric, when applying facial mask, it can fit the facial contour well, stretch with the change of facial expression, without tightness, and the soft touch makes the whole process of applying facial mask more enjoyable. Compared to some non breathable materials, such as traditional plastic film, which not only feels stuffy and uncomfortable when worn, the advantages of elastic non-woven fabric in daily use are obvious. It allows us to enjoy product functionality while also having a comfortable user experience.
Environmental Pioneer: Characteristics of Environmental Friendliness
In today’s era of increasing environmental awareness, the environmentally friendly characteristics of elastic non-woven fabrics have also made them highly favored. As mentioned earlier, its main components are polypropylene, polyester, and elastomers, which are relatively easy to decompose in natural environments. If elastic non-woven fabric is placed outdoors, under the influence of natural factors such as sunlight, moisture, and microorganisms, its longest lifespan is only 90 days, and it will gradually decompose into small molecule substances and return to nature; Even if placed indoors, it will decompose within 5 years.
Moreover, when environmentally friendly elastic non-woven fabric needs to be burned, it will not produce pungent odors or toxic substances like some traditional plastics. It is non-toxic and odorless when burned, and will not leave any difficult to handle residual substances, which will not cause pollution to the environment. This feature makes it outstanding in environmental protection, in line with the current trend of green and sustainable development. Whether in medical supplies, daily consumer goods, or industrial applications, it reduces the pressure on the environment and contributes a green force to our planet.
The diverse application fields of elastic non woven fabric
Elastic non-woven fabric has a wide range of applications in various aspects of our lives due to its unique material properties.
Elastic non-woven fabric is often used in daily care products such as eye masks and steam eye masks. When we put on the eye mask and prepare to rest, the soft material of elastic non-woven fabric gently adheres to the skin around the eyes, without creating a sense of pressure, allowing us to enter a more relaxed resting state. Its elasticity can adapt to the head circumference of different people, whether they are adults or children, they can find a comfortable way to wear it, and it can also ensure that the eye mask will not easily shift during sleep, providing us with continuous shading effect. The steam eye mask uses elastic non-woven fabric to closely fit the contour of the eyes, allowing steam to act more concentrated on the eyes and relieve eye fatigue.
3D masks are also a potential application of elastic non-woven fabrics. The ear hook of the mask is made of elastic non-woven fabric, which can tightly fit the face, effectively blocking the invasion of droplets, dust, and bacteria. The elastic design allows people with different facial shapes to wear it comfortably, and long-term wearing will not cause ear pain, ensuring our health and safety in public places.
In the field of healthcare, elastic non-woven fabrics also play an important role. Medical adhesive tape needs to be able to firmly adhere to the skin without causing excessive discomfort to the patient. The softness and breathability of elastic non-woven fabric make it non irritating to the skin when applied, and even during the patient’s activity, the adhesive tape can stretch and contract with the skin, maintaining a good adhesive effect and not easily falling off. Antipyretic patches and plaster patches use elastic non-woven fabric as the substrate, which can tightly adhere to the skin, allowing the drug ingredients to penetrate the body better, while also keeping the skin breathing and reducing the occurrence of adverse reactions such as allergies.
Protective equipment such as knee pads and elastic bandages also rely on elastic non-woven fabric. When we exercise, knee pads need to tightly wrap around the knee to provide support and protection, while not affecting the normal movement of the knee. The elasticity and flexibility of elastic non-woven fabric enable knee pads to flexibly change with the bending and stretching of the knee, just like a part of our body, which can effectively protect the knee and allow us to move freely. Elastic bandages can be freely adjusted according to the shape and size of the injured area, providing appropriate pressure to promote wound healing without affecting blood circulation due to tightness.
In maternal and adult care products, the waist of baby diapers and adult incontinence pants is usually made of elastic non-woven fabric. Babies are always full of energy, constantly kicking, flipping, and crawling. The elastic waist of baby diapers needs to be able to stretch freely with the baby’s movements, ensuring no side leakage and not restricting the baby’s physical development, allowing the baby to move freely and parents to feel more at ease. Similarly, the use of elastic non-woven fabric in adult incontinence pants allows users to feel comfortable and at ease while ensuring basic functionality, improving their quality of life.
Summary and Outlook
Elastic non-woven fabric is mainly composed of polypropylene, polyester, and elastomers. Its unique material combination endows it with characteristics such as elasticity, breathability, softness, and environmental friendliness, making it play an important role in many fields such as daily care, healthcare, maternal and child care, and adult care, bringing us many conveniences and comfortable experiences in our lives.
Looking ahead to the future, with the continuous advancement of materials science and technology, elastic non-woven fabrics are expected to be further optimized in terms of materials, such as developing more efficient elastomers to make their elasticity more durable and stable, or finding alternative materials with better performance to further enhance the comprehensive performance of non-woven fabrics. In the application field, it is likely to expand into more emerging industries, such as the field of smart wearable devices. With its elasticity and flexibility, combined with electronic components, it can develop smart wearable products that are more suitable for the human body and more comfortable to use. We can continue to pay attention to the development of materials science, and perhaps in the near future, elastic non-woven fabrics will bring us more unexpected surprises and convenience.
Dongguan Liansheng Non woven Technology Co., Ltd. was established in May 2020. It is a large-scale non-woven fabric production enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. It can produce various colors of PP spunbond non-woven fabrics with a width of less than 3.2 meters from 9 grams to 300 grams.
Post time: Jul-28-2025